This plant list provides a good starting point to help you become familiar with some native plants that are good for rain gardens. Most of the plants listed below are native specifically to the mid-Atlantic region, although there are some that are native more to the mid-western region of the United States. This list is not a comprehensive planting guide, as the exact plants for each rain garden will vary depending on how much water the garden will hold, the exposure (sun or shade), and the soil conditions.
The woody plants listed are for the most part shrubs and smaller trees. There are a good number of larger trees that will easily withstand wet conditions (such as river birch, sweetgum, and black gum). However, this list was developed with the average size residential rain garden in mind, which would typically be using smallerscale plant material.
The perennials and grasses selected for this list were chosen for their ability to withstand fluctuating water levels in primarily sun to partial sun exposure. There are many native plants that are typically found in more shaded environments in soil with a high amount of organic matter. Such plants would not be suitable for a rain garden unless the exposure and soil conditions can match the needs of those plants.
Also, there are other plants (trees, shrubs, and herbaceous) suitable for rain gardens that just didn’t make it onto this list. Remember, plants are dynamic and the water level that a plant can withstand is variable, even for plants that are very water-tolerant. Be sure to consider sun/shade exposure as well as the depth of the rain garden when making plant selections. Happy rain gardening!
Zone 1-Wet Zone
This area will be the deepest and hold the most water for the most amount of time. The plants listed below are tolerant of inundated (flooded) conditions upwards of six inches, meaning that they can tolerate standing water for a period of time. The rain garden should be designed so that water infiltrates within 24 hours.
Shrubs
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)*
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)*
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)*
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)*
Possumhaw (Viburnum nudum)*
St. Johnswort (Hypericum densiflorum)*
Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)*
Smooth alder (Alnus serrulata)*
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)*
Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)
Swamp rose (Rosa palustris)
Wild raisin (Viburnum cassinoides)*
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)*
Perennials and ferns
Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)*
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum*)
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)*
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)*
Golden ragwort (Senecio aureus)*
Goldenrod (Solidago patula, S. rugosa)*
Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphlitica)*
Green bullrush (Scirpus atrovirens)
Horsetail (Equisetum species)
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)*
Monkey flower (Mimulus ringens)
New England aster (Aster novae-anglia)*
New York aster (Aster novi-belgii)
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
Seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia)
Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)*
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)*
Soft rush (Juncus effusus)*
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)*
Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)*
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)*
Tussock sedge (Carex stricta)
White turtlehead (Chelone glabra)*
Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus)*
Trees
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)*
Birch (Betula lenta, Betula nigra)*
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)*
Black willow (Salix nigra)*
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)*
Pin oak (Quercus palustris)
Pond pine (Pinus palustris)*
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Swamp oak (Quercus bicolor)
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)*
Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis)*
*Note: Species noted with an asterisk (*) are also typically suitable for Zone 2 of the rain garden.
Zone 2-Mesic (middle) Zone
This area will hold water but will drain much sooner than Zone 1. This zone is likely to hold several inches of water during and immediately after a rain event, depending on the construction of the rain garden.
Shrubs
American beautyberry (Calicarpa americana)
Broad-leaved meadowsweet (Spirea latifolia)
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spirea alba)
Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Perennials
Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis)
Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides)
Bottlebrush grass (Hystrix patula)
Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)
Culvers root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Mistflower (Eupatorium colestinum)
Obedient plant (Physotegia virginiana)
Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
Trees
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Paw paw (Asmina triloba)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea, A.canadensis and A. laevis)
Note: See also the plants listed in Zone 1 marked with an asterisk (*).
Zone 3-Transition Zone
The upper or transition zone between the rain garden and the non-garden area. This area will receive water infrequently; during very heavy rain events and will drain the fastest. It will be the most similar to typical garden areas, depending on the individual’s watering practices. Almost any typical garden plant will work in this zone. Just be sure to use native plants to enhance wildlife habitat.
Shrubs
American cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum)
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)
Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
St. Johnswort (Hypericum densiflorum)
Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Witch hazel (Hammamelis virginiana)
Yellow root (Xanthorhizza simplicissima)
Perennials Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Blazing star (Liatris spicata)
Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides)
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Calico aster (Aster lateriflorus)
Evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
Golden aster (Chrysopsis mariana)
Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Mistflower (Eupatorium colestinum)
Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Trees
Buckeye (Aesculus pavia and A. parviflora)
Carolina silverbell (Halesia caroliana)
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)
Created by Lauri Danko, GardenScape Design and Consulting
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